Interesting article from the WSJ about the supposedly shrinking market for second hand furniture and so forth.
Market For Second Hand Furniture and Heirlooms Drying Up?
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Absolutely. I began noticing it a couple of years ago at places like the Habitat Restore. Whereas solid wood diningroom sets, antique dining sets, real antique brass beds etc used to fly out the door now they sit for weeks on end. All those floral toned sofa's and chairs same thing. And those big TV "entertaintment centers" they should probably stop accepting as well.
danemodsandy
Well-known member
I Wish....
That the market for good end tables would dry up - I need a pair, and can't find anything reasonably priced.
Well, I can find them reasonably priced, but then they are invariably unreasonably styled.
Walnut or cherry, Queen Anne, cabriole legs, a small drawer. I'm easy.
Everything I find is '70s dreck in brown oak with glass tops, looking like there should be macrame hanging over it.
That the market for good end tables would dry up - I need a pair, and can't find anything reasonably priced.
Well, I can find them reasonably priced, but then they are invariably unreasonably styled.
Walnut or cherry, Queen Anne, cabriole legs, a small drawer. I'm easy.
Everything I find is '70s dreck in brown oak with glass tops, looking like there should be macrame hanging over it.
Ditto
Indeed taking in second hand furniture including stuff found on the curbs is how the NYC bed bug problem got so out of hand. Yet you still see persons taking things off the curb put out for rubbish home. A girl across the street from us was trying to get a taxi driver to help her shift a sofa that had been put out for rubbish. Eventually later that night we saw one of the building's handymen assisting her with the move.
Considering everything from rats and mice to huge roaches that inhabit NYC streets cannot think of any piece of furniture one would want that badly to pick up and bring indoors. Not to mention dogs picking up their legs as they pass.
Indeed taking in second hand furniture including stuff found on the curbs is how the NYC bed bug problem got so out of hand. Yet you still see persons taking things off the curb put out for rubbish home. A girl across the street from us was trying to get a taxi driver to help her shift a sofa that had been put out for rubbish. Eventually later that night we saw one of the building's handymen assisting her with the move.
Considering everything from rats and mice to huge roaches that inhabit NYC streets cannot think of any piece of furniture one would want that badly to pick up and bring indoors. Not to mention dogs picking up their legs as they pass.
"Indeed taking in second hand furniture including stuff found on the curbs is how the NYC bed bug problem got so out of hand."
It's certainly one reason, but logically imo most or maybe nearly all of the bed bug problem is due to inadequate wash temperatures for bedding and clothing. The same is definitely true for other problems, e.g. dust mites and their droppings: studies found 25% of U.S. homes have dust mite allergen levels high enough to cause physical symptoms.
It's certainly one reason, but logically imo most or maybe nearly all of the bed bug problem is due to inadequate wash temperatures for bedding and clothing. The same is definitely true for other problems, e.g. dust mites and their droppings: studies found 25% of U.S. homes have dust mite allergen levels high enough to cause physical symptoms.
Lice and Scabies Can Be Found On Human Clothing/Linens
Though not for long as they soon die without human hosts.
Bed bugs do need to feed on humans, but once that is done they go back to their hiding/nesting places until hungry again. Those places can be surprisingly far from the actual bed or near to it as the cracks, holes, crevices and such in the woodwork or metal frames.
One mistake persons who try to DIY bed bugs is only treating the "bed" and linens. Leaving the rest of the home/room alone. So a new mattress is purchased and even bed along with linens (if they haven't been boiled or frozen for several days. Guess what? Depending on the initial infestation the buggers are soon back. This because again their nests were far away from the bed to begin with.
Though not for long as they soon die without human hosts.
Bed bugs do need to feed on humans, but once that is done they go back to their hiding/nesting places until hungry again. Those places can be surprisingly far from the actual bed or near to it as the cracks, holes, crevices and such in the woodwork or metal frames.
One mistake persons who try to DIY bed bugs is only treating the "bed" and linens. Leaving the rest of the home/room alone. So a new mattress is purchased and even bed along with linens (if they haven't been boiled or frozen for several days. Guess what? Depending on the initial infestation the buggers are soon back. This because again their nests were far away from the bed to begin with.
Could it be that the "market" for the real high quality furniture dried up becuase you(at least I don't see it in swap shops here anymore)can't get those anymore.Folks that have them are going to hang onto them until the end.
Agree on the bedbugs-this energy and water saving silliness just may be whats the real contribution to that problem.Now if we can allow folks to wash things in WATER-lots of it--and it HOT then the bedbugs will go away.
Go to the "Classic Refuse Trucks" site on YouTube and you see what happens to furniture left on the curb if someone doesn't grab it--A "crushfest" for the trash truck!!And in the videos you sometimes see folks stop to watch sad peices of furniture getting crushed in the Leach,EZ Pak,Pak-Mor,New Way and so on.Mostly see couches getting the flat treatment.
At this point leave the couches and other stuffed furniture on the curb-esp here if it rains-the thing is ruined anyway.But I have NEVER seen nice solid hardwood furniture abandoned on the curb.Becuase,really,the stuff doesn't "wear out"!
Agree on the bedbugs-this energy and water saving silliness just may be whats the real contribution to that problem.Now if we can allow folks to wash things in WATER-lots of it--and it HOT then the bedbugs will go away.
Go to the "Classic Refuse Trucks" site on YouTube and you see what happens to furniture left on the curb if someone doesn't grab it--A "crushfest" for the trash truck!!And in the videos you sometimes see folks stop to watch sad peices of furniture getting crushed in the Leach,EZ Pak,Pak-Mor,New Way and so on.Mostly see couches getting the flat treatment.
At this point leave the couches and other stuffed furniture on the curb-esp here if it rains-the thing is ruined anyway.But I have NEVER seen nice solid hardwood furniture abandoned on the curb.Becuase,really,the stuff doesn't "wear out"!
If I have something to get rid of, and I think it is worth my time, I'll post it on Craigslist. Depending on the item, I'll keep it on there for about a week. If it doesn't sell, I'll take it down to Goodwill. I haven't been told that they won't accept my donations, as of yet. I have donated things from a couch, hutch, 80's console tvs. I hate just throwing something out, just because I dont want it. If Goodwill turns something away, I would then post it for free on Craigslist, with eventually taking it to the dump, if it doesn't go. As far as upholstered furniture and bedbugs. Mattress I will only buy new (with the exception of the on mattress from the 50's I have). Both of my couches and chairs were bought at estate sales. All were steamed cleaned prior to being brought into the house.
It is possible that with the current economic conditions, fewer young people are able to establish a place on their own and are remaining at home, thus cutting into the traditional market for second hand furniture.
The other possibility is that the world of WSJ readers is so divorced from the world in which the rest of us live that what they consider second hand furniture is of such a scale and price that ordinary people do not have room for the pieces even if they could afford them. This is a publication, after all, that calls their domestic section "Mansion." I have been in large homes in Atlanta and the scale of the furnishings is different from what you put in regular-sized homes.
The other possibility is that the world of WSJ readers is so divorced from the world in which the rest of us live that what they consider second hand furniture is of such a scale and price that ordinary people do not have room for the pieces even if they could afford them. This is a publication, after all, that calls their domestic section "Mansion." I have been in large homes in Atlanta and the scale of the furnishings is different from what you put in regular-sized homes.
Anecdotally, I recall hearing from someone in the UK that he was having a hard time selling the contents of his mothers house (good quality traditional furniture and antiques) which he blamed upon DIY shows and modern shelter mags changing tastes against him in the UK (and likely smaller flats for young people, I'm sure Sheridan inherited mummies good taste). The actual antique market may have slowed due to the economy and taste changes (and less space for large vintage furniture too). MidMod furniture still seems to be high priced.
bluejay
Well-known member
Second hand furniture seems to be flying out the doors here in NE Maryland. Granted, a lot of local dealers hit up ours and then will shabby chic the pieces. *Shudder*
There is a shop in Andersonville in Chicago which does up 60's dressers etc with pastel colors. So do a lot of HGTV type DIY shows.
Got a chuckle out of the WsJ comments about people not redecorating in the "old days" - people did that a lot, especially if they were doing well financially, it's just that the prosperity trickled down more now.
Got a chuckle out of the WsJ comments about people not redecorating in the "old days" - people did that a lot, especially if they were doing well financially, it's just that the prosperity trickled down more now.
